Hairspiration- Algebra Blessett

Share This Post

Algebra Blessett is a songstress, guitarist, songwriter, and more. Her sophomore album, “Recovery” which is available now for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes and in stores on January 28, 2014. Read on for more about the new album, her natural hair, and music.

Algebra Blessett is a woman that has fully embraced the versatility of her natural hair and its flexibility. Raised to live outside the box, she freely expresses herself with her clothing and hair. You will see this in her music as well as her stage presence where she has incorporated aerial silk into her set.

Blessett’s transition to natural hair was not a traditional one. There was no big chop or gradually growing out her relaxer. She made the decision to go natural but first she want to experiment with bleached blonde hair. “I knew it [my relaxed hair] would fall off as I grew out my natural hair. I was fine with that.”

“Being natural made me realize, it’s just hair yet it’s more than that. Its very emotional. As our crown, many of us didn’t grow up knowing our natural texture. We have had to go through a season of recovery or learning. We had to find out how to make our hair happy. We didn’t know what to use. And for a long time, I didn’t know I needed a conditioner to detangle my hair. Do you know how many combs were broken? But its a very beautiful and interesting thing that its so common now. I love that there are sites like Natural Hair Rules that share this information. And that children now have never had chemicals or relaxers. They grow up knowing their textures.”

Algebra Blessett’s first album was entitled, Purpose. (Purpose is timeless album that is just as relevant today as it was yesterday. I brought it in 2008 and still jam it regularly. Do you have it?)”I wasn’t looking to create a studio album. It was something that happening quite naturally. It just came together seamlessly. I was performing live and sing backup for artists and these songs would speak to my situation and I would record them at home. Or I would think to myself I’ll get this person to play on that track. Or maybe that person to work on this track. I didn’t understand the impact my music had. Anything that I had gone through up until that time or anything that I had recorded went on that album. I didn’t know I was recording an album. Purpose didn’t have a theme. It was everything I had learned up to that point. I needed to put it out. I wanted others to hear it. I wanted to help someone; and encourage, inspire… Once I made the decision I wanted to put it out. Eventually I had Purpose, the album.”

But with the new album, Recovery, was more intentional. Blessett knew the impact of her music. You can say she knew her purpose. “Recovery is a relatable journey that I get to take with those fans [that have been with me from the 1st album] and people that have never heard of me which is an amazing thing because sometimes you just need something to take us away from where we are. Music is a service; recovery is my own testimonial. It let’s you know I go through the same things you do. That we recover from it all. Recovery is dedicated to the listeners because now I understand my purpose as a artist, as a songwriter…”

Now let’s talk hair… I asked Algebra about her favorite lazy day hairstyle.

If you follow Algebra on Instagram, you know she is the queen of head wraps. But it didn’t start off that way. “I never really did head wraps because as a kid I grew up having to cover my head for church. When I came of age, I didn’t want to cover my head. But I started to love hats, hoodies, and skull caps. Then the thought of head wraps grew on me. But by this time it wasn’t in style. Now things are back in style, but it doesn’t matter. I can be in the dead of summer and put on a skull cap. It just feels good… like a huge blanket. Uncoordinated, but I just throw a hat on my head. That’s my lazy day style. But as a natural woman, I shampoo, condition, and twist my hair but still ended up covering my head with a skull cap or head wrap. It just feels good. Sometimes I press my hair, which is more work. I press and wrap it up with a scarf. Or I’ll braid my own hair without extension, cornrow it some how. And just rock it. I try not to do high maintenance hairdos. The only thing I haven’t done is big chopped or cutting my hair completely off.”

What are your must-have products?

“I’m natural so I’ve tried everything in the beauty supply stores. But more natural elements work better for my hair. My hair is seasonal. I change my hair and body products in the winter. I put shea butter in my hair. I shampoo with a peppermint shampoo. I’ve done Bronner’s Brothers Products and Mane n Tail products (which make my hair very thick), coconut oil but it really depends on the seasons. My sister makes products for me where she crushes up nuts and mixes different oils. I walk around smell like a grocery store in my head. (laugh)

Share This Post

Related

About Author

Tamara is the Founding Editor of Natural Hair Rules!!! Natural Hair Rules (NHR) was originally created as her personal hair journal. Since its creation in 2008, it has grown to one of the top natural hair/beauty blogs online today.